ERP SYSTEM
Objective: Now that you have had the chance to learn the detail background on ERP systems.
Purpose/ Description: Discuss how you would integrate ERP systems internal and external across your
entire organization or an organization of your choice? Describe how you would structure the
implementation of your ERP system using the project management framework. Then discuss the positive
impact that an ERP will have on the organization that you work for or one of your choices especially the
impact on operations and project management. Support your details with in-depth research.
(The writer can choose which organization he wants to write about).
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The enterprise resource planning is a set of integrated systems that seek to ensure the
efficient management of various critical operations in a given firm. The management will
involve both the external and internal resources of a given organization (Chou et al, 2014). The
ERP is supposed to facilitate the information flow between the various functions of business in
an organization for the management of connections with the external stakeholders. The
enterprise resource planning makes it possible for all the firm’s units to have accessibility to the
current information and data to support planning and operations. The process entails the
integration of the systems with the enterprise information resources. Such processes in an
organization include customer services, marketing, human resources, finances and inventory
control (Chen et al, 2013). My organization of choice that I seek to integrate the ERP system
with other operations is a research marketing and computing firm.
There are various strategies adopted during the process of integration of the ERP systems
internally and externally in my selected organization. When it comes to the integration of the
systems, I will ensure focus is given to the customer relationship system of management.
Customer interface is critical in every organization requiring the exhibition of uniqueness. I
would adopt the enterprise service buss to ensure the effective integration of the internal and
external systems in the research, marketing and computing firm (Chou et al, 2014). The
integration process aims at including the mobile platforms and cloud-based applications that
have the new and evolved protocols which are key in integrating the external systems in an
organization. Adopting the enterprise service buss helps in decoupling the ERP system with
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other applications. The ESB system used for integration has the cloud connector that efficiently
enables the enterprises to connect with cloud-based applications efficiently. The company in
question requires the real times transition making the integration approach suitable in this
situation. The approach to be used in this organization supports a wide array various formats of
data e.g. the web-based protocols which make the integration easier (Chou et al, 2014).
Information systems are core in every organization. In this case, the ESB mode of integration for
both the internal and external system would you be used to integrate the whole organization.
Successful implementation of the adopted approach of integration in the organization
requires careful planning toe ensure the process is effective in nature. The effective
implementation ensures all the internal and external systems are linked together to ensure the
smooth operations in an organization. The implementation of the ERP implementation process in
an organization has some crucial phases. The phases of the process help are designing the
structure for implementation using the project framework leading to success (Hepner & Dickson,
2013). The process of implementation would be structure based on the following phases that
have to be followed. These phases are strategic planning, procedure review, and designs,
development and data collection, testing and deployment of the project. The assignment of the
project team with the employees in various departments in the organization is one of the tasks
during strategic planning (Hepner & Dickson, 2013). An analysis of the operations to be
improved is done in this phase. The setting of the key objectives is important in this phase of
implementing the ERP. Development of the project plan by the team appointed is essential in the
process of implementing the process of integrating the ERP. Procedure review is structured as
one of the crucial steps during the implementation process. Training on the use of the ERP
system and identification of the manual process that should be automated with the ERP systems
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is carried out. The standard operating procedures are also developed for every aspect of the
organization’s operations. The design involves the efforts by the project team to work with the
configuration of the systems (Marakas et al, 2014).
Development is the next step that is undertaken during the implementation of the ERP
system. The systems are prepared for going live, which entails importing data, completing the
necessary customizations and development of the user training. Testing is a paramount structure
that is required in any organization while implementing the effective ERP system (Marakas et al,
2014). The alignment of the system with the set requirements is tested in the development and
testing structures of the ERP implementation process. The accuracy of information and checking
for any adjustments needed is done during the testing phase. Evaluation, going live and
deployment is another application structure I would use when following the project development
framework. The ERP system is activated safely while another round of testing can be carried out
before the launching (Tang, 2015). The data for the internal and external systems is loaded and
properly validated before going live. The project team starts adopting the new system in carrying
out the operations of the organization.
The ongoing support to the implementation of the systems is the final stage involved in
the process which entails the advances efforts requiring attention beyond the initial phase of
installation. Adhering strictly to the requirements during the implementation of the ERP system
in the organization leads to success and effective integration (Tang, 2015).
The ERP system has massive positive impacts on an organization after its successful
implementation. The ERP is very important during any project management process in the
organization due to its benefits.ERP system enhances customer responsiveness, productivity, and
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flexibility. Integration of the system into the core operations maximizes the business efficiency
across the entire firm. The organization that conducts the marketing and computing operations
improves while the products can be produced faster. There is increased productivity and also the
faster delivery of the services. The ERP has the positive impact of improving customer service
making the relationship management efficient in nature (Wei & Ma, 2014). Integration of the
ERP system makes it possible to forecast supplies to demand the services offered. Another
positive impact brought about by the integration of ERP systems is that it eliminates
inefficiencies and costs in an organization. The ERP system helps in improving the company’s
operations by standardizing the business processes (Tang, 2015). The management of the
relationship with vendor results in a company is made easier in lower cost for the purchased
items. The level of inefficiencies and increased inventory turns results due to the better resource
management in a company made possible by the integration of the ERP system.
Data consistency is a great positive impact that emanates from the integration of ERP
system in the organization. The organization of my choice deals mostly with marketing and
computing services which deal with a lot of data processes. The business management functions
of the organization are efficiently integrated into the ERP system (Nwankpa, 2015). The level of
inconsistency from various systems is decreased for the effective running of operations in an
organization. The managers of my organization can now easily gather accurate information to
ensure the making of informed decisions. The integration of the ERP systems is also a great
opportunity to expand the business operations of the organization using the internet forum. All
functions and operations are linked together using the ERP systems making it easier to use the
internet forum as part of the business strategy leading to success (Nwankpa, 2015).
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The web-enabled technology for the organization makes it possible to run business
processes, access the correct information and also communicate with the firm’s customers from
anywhere in the world. Project management in ERP is usually complex and big in nature. The
ability to complete the projects with the inclusion of the e-business in an organization is
beneficial leading to success and quick completion of the projects in the most effective manner
(Chen et al, 2013). The ERP system enhances the potential growth of the organization and future
e-supply and e-commerce investments which are crucial for the organization of my choice. The
ERP makes the organization have a decreased order-to-cash cycle which increases cash flow for
the company which is essential when it comes to gaining of profits and quick development. The
ERP system has positive impacts on the organization by reducing the chances for delays and
ensuring the proper budgeting of finances (Hepner & Dickson, 2013).
In a nutshell, ERP system has many positive impacts that lead to the faster growth and
development of the organization where the system is integrated. Implementation of the ERP
creates data standardization, effective cross-module integration, and industry best practices. The
successful implementation of the ERP system with the organization operations and projects
enhances the increased flexibility of the firm and improved integrability (Marakas et al, 2014)
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References
Chen, F., Wang, Q., Wei, Q., Ren, C., Shao, B., & Li, J. (2013, July). Integrate ERP system into
business process management system. In Service Operations and Logistics, and
Informatics (SOLI), 2013 IEEE International Conference on (pp. 436-439). IEEE.
Chou, H. W., Lin, Y. H., Lu, H. S., Chang, H. H., & Chou, S. B. (2014). Knowledge sharing and
ERP system usage in post-implementation stage. Computers in Human Behavior, 33, 16-
22.
Hepner, M., & Dickson, W. (2013). The value of ERP curriculum integration: Perspectives from
the research. Journal of Information Systems Education, 24(4), 309.
Marakas, G. M., & O’Brien, J. A. (2014). Introduction to information systems. McGraw-Hill
Education.
Nwankpa, J. K. (2015). ERP system usage and benefit: A model of antecedents and outcomes.
Computers in Human Behavior, 45, 335-344.
Tang, G. (2015). System Integration of PLM and ERP Based on Cloud computing.
Wei, J., & Ma, Y. S. (2014). Design of a feature-based order acceptance and scheduling module
in an ERP system. Computers in Industry, 65(1), 64-78.
